Troy Mayor Ethan Baker is trading city hall for the campaign trail, announcing today that he is running for the U.S. House in Michigan's 11th Congressional District. He is stepping into an already busy primary to replace Rep. Haley Stevens, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Baker framed his bid as an effort to bring local priorities, including Great Lakes protection and relief from everyday costs, to Washington while leaning on years of municipal and federal experience.
Baker's announcement and message
Speaking in Troy, Baker cast himself as a practical voice who wants to cool the temperature in Congress without backing away from his beliefs. "We can stand firmly for what we believe in, but still make space to understand where someone else is coming from," he said, according to The Oakland Press. The paper reported that Baker homed in on regional concerns such as water quality, business growth, and public safety as pillars of his pitch.
Local record and background
Baker's campaign rests heavily on his Troy resume. He was first elected to the City Council in 2015, then won the mayor's office in 2019 and secured re-election in 2023, according to the city's official biography. That profile also notes that he practices law in Troy with a focus on elder law and estate planning, and that earlier in his career he served as a Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan in the Reagans' Los Angeles post-presidential office, per the City of Troy.
Campaign paperwork filed
On the nuts-and-bolts side, federal records show Baker already filed a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in March and set up "Baker for Congress" as his principal campaign committee. The FEC candidate page for H6MI11290 lists the committee along with an office address in Troy. The filing details are available at the Federal Election Commission.
Great Lakes and federal experience
Baker is also leaning into his regional credentials on water and environmental issues. He serves as chair and U.S. commissioner on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the binational body that coordinates fisheries research and invasive-species control across the basin. The commission lists him among its U.S. commissioners, according to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. His recent ascent to the chair role was highlighted in local business coverage, which underscored how that position dovetails with his campaign themes of water quality and regional stewardship, per DBusiness.
Why the 11th District matters
The 11th District shot up the watch lists after Rep. Haley Stevens launched her Senate campaign, leaving the House seat without an incumbent and quickly drawing attention from both parties, according to 270toWin. The district is centered in Oakland County and includes Troy, which means local turnout and ground-level organizing are expected to play an outsized role in what is shaping up as a competitive primary.
What's next
Michigan's primary is set for August. 4, which gives Baker and his rivals time to introduce themselves, but not much room to fumble paperwork. Candidates will have to meet filing and petition deadlines in the months leading up to the vote. The Green Papers is tracking the calendar and filings for the 11th District, offering voters a running scoreboard as the race takes shape.
